Bunker Afrikano

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Peter
Heinkel 111 used for dropping fallschirmjager at Sicily?
Fri Dec 27 15:07:16 2002
80.61.33.37

Does someone have information about how 3rd Fallschirmjager Regiment was dropped during the Sicily campaign. Some book mentioned that they used Heinkel 111's. Is that so?
How many men could a Heinkel carry? How did the Fallschirmjager jump from a Heinkel 111 ?

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Gianmaria
He 111s
Fri Dec 27 18:33:34 2002
192.92.126.137

To my knowledge, He111 was never used as a paratroop aircraft over Sicily. The website www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk doesn't say anything about this.
According to www.bunkerafrikano.com, the first jump from Heinkel 111s took place over the Ardennes, where six aircraft dropped some Fallschirmtruppen behind enemy lines. The planes used for such operations had the upper turret removed and a hole in the floor, from where the paratroops jumped. I can't remember how many could be carried in each plane but the number must have been around 15-20.

The Bunker Afrikano website is currently down for maintenance but you can send an email to webmaster@bunkerafrikano.com for further info.

HTH,
Gianmaria Spagnoletti
http://it.geocities.com/gspagno/main.html

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

David Pausey
in "Spitfires over Sicily"...
Mon Dec 30 10:37:46 2002
195.92.67.76

Hello Peter
In this book by B.Cull,N.Malizia,& F.Galea.Pages 154 & 155 they say "The Heinkels attacked had certainly been carrying paratroops,the last elements of FJR3 from Pogliano on their way to join their comrades".
The two Luftwaffe units were I/LLG2 & KGrzbV.25 who were attacked by 93sqn & 243sqn & lost six 100%dest,three 60-50% dam & one 30% dam He111's(not all of there losses were to the Spitfire's).Also "two Me323's were dest on the ground & a number of anti-tank weapons were lost with some key personnel amongst the paratroops".The He111's were attacked at Catania on the 31-7-43.The authors Bibliography has a book by Martin Poppel "Heaven & Hell" for further reading.
Hope this Helps
David